(a) An agreement to settle a civil action for physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63, neglect, as defined in Section 15610.57, or financial abuse, as defined in Section 15610.30, of an elder or dependent adult shall not include any of the following provisions, whether the agreement is made before or after filing the action:
(1) A provision that prohibits any party to the dispute from contacting or cooperating with the county adult protective services agency, the local law enforcement agency, the long-term care ombudsman, the California Department of Aging, the Department of Justice, the Licensing and Certification Division of the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Developmental Services, the State Department of State Hospitals, a licensing or regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over the license or certification of the defendant, any other governmental entity, a protection and advocacy agency, as defined in Section 4900, or the defendant’s current employer if the defendant’s job responsibilities include contact with elders, dependent adults, or children, provided that the party contacting or cooperating with one of these entities had a good faith belief that the information he or she provided is relevant to the concerns, duties, or obligations of that entity.
(2) A provision that prohibits any party to the dispute from filing a complaint with, or reporting any violation of law to, the county adult protective services agency, the local law enforcement agency, the long-term care ombudsman, the California Department of Aging, the Department of Justice, the Licensing and Certification Division of the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Developmental Services, the State Department of State Hospitals, a licensing or regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over the license or certification of the defendant, any other governmental entity, a protection and advocacy agency, as defined in Section 4900, or the defendant’s current employer if the defendant’s job responsibilities include contact with elders, dependent adults, or children.
(3) A provision that requires any party to the dispute to withdraw a complaint he or she has filed with, or a violation he or she has reported to, the county adult protective services agency, the local law enforcement agency, the long-term care ombudsman, the California Department of Aging, the Department of Justice, the Licensing and Certification Division of the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Developmental Services, the State Department of State Hospitals, a licensing or regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over the license or certification of the defendant, any other governmental entity, a protection and advocacy agency, as defined in Section 4900, or the defendant’s current employer if the defendant’s job responsibilities include contact with elders, dependent adults, or children.
(b) A provision described in subdivision (a) is void as against public policy.
(c) This section shall apply only to an agreement entered on or after January 1, 2013.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 442, Sec. 40. (SB 1465) Effective September 18, 2014.)